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Mandarin Chinese information.
Old Wade-Giles romanization used only in Taiwan.
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Buddhist definition. Note: May not apply to all sects.
 Definition may be different outside of Buddhism.

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Characters Pronunciation
Romanization
Simple Dictionary Definition

眾盲摸象


众盲摸象

see styles
zhòng máng mō xiàng
    zhong4 mang2 mo1 xiang4
chung mang mo hsiang
multitude of blind people touch an elephant (idiom, from Nirvana sutra 大般涅槃經|大般涅盘经[da4 ban1 Nie4 pan2 jing1]); fig. unable to see the big picture; to mistake the part for the whole; unable to see the wood for the trees

睚眥必報


睚眦必报

see styles
yá zì bì bào
    ya2 zi4 bi4 bao4
ya tzu pi pao
lit. to seek revenge over a dirty look (idiom); fig. small-minded; vindictive

瞎子摸象

see styles
xiā zi mō xiàng
    xia1 zi5 mo1 xiang4
hsia tzu mo hsiang
blind people touch an elephant (idiom, from Nirvana sutra 大般涅槃經|大般涅盘经[da4 ban1 Nie4 pan2 jing1]); fig. unable to see the big picture; to mistake the part for the whole; unable to see the wood for the trees

瞻前顧後


瞻前顾后

see styles
zhān qián gù hòu
    zhan1 qian2 gu4 hou4
chan ch`ien ku hou
    chan chien ku hou
lit. to look forward and back (idiom); fig. to consider carefully; to weigh the pros and cons; fig. to be overcautious and indecisive

知名人士

see styles
zhī míng rén shì
    zhi1 ming2 ren2 shi4
chih ming jen shih
public figure; celebrity

知難而退


知难而退

see styles
zhī nán ér tuì
    zhi1 nan2 er2 tui4
chih nan erh t`ui
    chih nan erh tui
lit. to sound out the difficulties and retreat to avoid defeat (idiom); fig. to back out of an awkward situation; to get out on finding out what it's really like

短兵相接

see styles
duǎn bīng xiāng jiē
    duan3 bing1 xiang1 jie1
tuan ping hsiang chieh
lit. short-weaponed soldiery fight one another (idiom); fierce hand-to-hand infantry combat; to fight at close quarters

石沉大海

see styles
shí chén dà hǎi
    shi2 chen2 da4 hai3
shih ch`en ta hai
    shih chen ta hai
lit. to throw a stone and see it sink without trace in the sea (idiom); fig. to elicit no response

破瓦寒窯


破瓦寒窑

see styles
pò wǎ hán yáo
    po4 wa3 han2 yao2
p`o wa han yao
    po wa han yao
lit. broken tiles, cold hearth; fig. a broken-down house; poor and shabby dwelling

破碗破摔

see styles
pò wǎn pò shuāi
    po4 wan3 po4 shuai1
p`o wan p`o shuai
    po wan po shuai
lit. to smash a cracked pot; fig. to treat oneself as hopeless and act crazily

破竹之勢


破竹之势

see styles
pò zhú zhī shì
    po4 zhu2 zhi1 shi4
p`o chu chih shih
    po chu chih shih
lit. a force to smash bamboo (idiom); fig. irresistible force

破竹建瓴

see styles
pò zhú jiàn líng
    po4 zhu2 jian4 ling2
p`o chu chien ling
    po chu chien ling
lit. smash bamboo, overturn water tank (idiom); fig. irresistible force

破繭成蝶


破茧成蝶

see styles
pò jiǎn chéng dié
    po4 jian3 cheng2 die2
p`o chien ch`eng tieh
    po chien cheng tieh
lit. to break through a cocoon and turn into a butterfly (idiom); fig. to emerge strong after a period of struggle; to get to a better place after going through difficult period

破罐破摔

see styles
pò guàn - pò shuāi
    po4 guan4 - po4 shuai1
p`o kuan - p`o shuai
    po kuan - po shuai
lit. to smash a pot just because it has a crack (idiom); fig. to give up altogether after a setback; to throw one's hands up in frustration and let it all go to hell

破釜沉舟

see styles
pò fǔ chén zhōu
    po4 fu3 chen2 zhou1
p`o fu ch`en chou
    po fu chen chou
lit. to break the cauldrons and sink the boats (idiom); fig. to cut off one's means of retreat; to burn one's boats

磨刀霍霍

see styles
mó dāo huò huò
    mo2 dao1 huo4 huo4
mo tao huo huo
lit. to sharpen one's sword (idiom); fig. to prepare to attack; to be getting ready for battle

社會名流


社会名流

see styles
shè huì míng liú
    she4 hui4 ming2 liu2
she hui ming liu
celebrity; public figure

社鼠城狐

see styles
shè shǔ chéng hú
    she4 shu3 cheng2 hu2
she shu ch`eng hu
    she shu cheng hu
lit. rat in a country shrine, fox on town walls; fig. unprincipled thugs who abuse others' power to bully and exploit people

神出鬼沒


神出鬼没

see styles
shén chū - guǐ mò
    shen2 chu1 - gui3 mo4
shen ch`u - kuei mo
    shen chu - kuei mo
lit. to appear and disappear unpredictably like a spirit or a ghost (idiom); fig. elusive
See: 神出鬼没

禍首罪魁


祸首罪魁

see styles
huò shǒu zuì kuí
    huo4 shou3 zui4 kui2
huo shou tsui k`uei
    huo shou tsui kuei
main offender, criminal ringleader (idiom); main culprit; fig. main cause of a disaster

禮尚往來


礼尚往来

see styles
lǐ shàng wǎng lái
    li3 shang4 wang3 lai2
li shang wang lai
lit. proper behavior is based on reciprocity (idiom); fig. to return politeness for politeness

禮崩樂壞


礼崩乐坏

see styles
lǐ bēng yuè huài
    li3 beng1 yue4 huai4
li peng yüeh huai
rites and music are in ruins (idiom); fig. society in total disarray; cf. 禮樂|礼乐[li3 yue4]

秋後算賬


秋后算账

see styles
qiū hòu suàn zhàng
    qiu1 hou4 suan4 zhang4
ch`iu hou suan chang
    chiu hou suan chang
lit. to settle accounts after autumn (idiom); fig. to settle scores at an opportune time

秋荼密網


秋荼密网

see styles
qiū tú mì wǎng
    qiu1 tu2 mi4 wang3
ch`iu t`u mi wang
    chiu tu mi wang
flowering autumn grass, fine net (idiom); fig. abundant and exacting punishments prescribed by law

移花接木

see styles
yí huā - jiē mù
    yi2 hua1 - jie1 mu4
i hua - chieh mu
lit. to graft flowers onto a tree (idiom); fig. to surreptitiously substitute one thing for another

程門立雪


程门立雪

see styles
chéng mén lì xuě
    cheng2 men2 li4 xue3
ch`eng men li hsüeh
    cheng men li hsüeh
lit. the snow piles up at Cheng Yi's door (idiom); fig. deep reverence for one's master

積土成山


积土成山

see styles
jī tǔ chéng shān
    ji1 tu3 cheng2 shan1
chi t`u ch`eng shan
    chi tu cheng shan
lit. piling up dirt eventually creates a mountain (idiom); fig. success is the cumulation of lots of small actions

穩扎穩打


稳扎稳打

see styles
wěn zhā wěn dǎ
    wen3 zha1 wen3 da3
wen cha wen ta
to go steady and strike hard (in fighting); fig. steadily and surely

空中格鬥


空中格斗

see styles
kōng zhōng gé dòu
    kong1 zhong1 ge2 dou4
k`ung chung ko tou
    kung chung ko tou
dogfight (of planes)

空穴來風


空穴来风

see styles
kōng xué lái fēng
    kong1 xue2 lai2 feng1
k`ung hsüeh lai feng
    kung hsüeh lai feng
lit. wind from an empty cave (idiom); fig. unfounded (story); baseless (claim)

空谷足音

see styles
kōng gǔ zú yīn
    kong1 gu3 zu2 yin1
k`ung ku tsu yin
    kung ku tsu yin
lit. the sound of footsteps in a deserted valley (idiom); fig. something hard to come by; something wonderful and rare

穿針引線


穿针引线

see styles
chuān zhēn yǐn xiàn
    chuan1 zhen1 yin3 xian4
ch`uan chen yin hsien
    chuan chen yin hsien
lit. to thread a needle (idiom); fig. to act as a go-between

窗明几淨


窗明几净

see styles
chuāng míng jī jìng
    chuang1 ming2 ji1 jing4
ch`uang ming chi ching
    chuang ming chi ching
lit. clear window and clean table (idiom); fig. bright and clean

窮家薄業


穷家薄业

see styles
qióng jiā bó yè
    qiong2 jia1 bo2 ye4
ch`iung chia po yeh
    chiung chia po yeh
lit. poor and with few means of subsistance (idiom); fig. destitute

窮山惡水


穷山恶水

see styles
qióng shān è shuǐ
    qiong2 shan1 e4 shui3
ch`iung shan o shui
    chiung shan o shui
lit. barren hills and wild rivers (idiom); fig. inhospitable natural environment

窮當益堅


穷当益坚

see styles
qióng dāng yì jiān
    qiong2 dang1 yi4 jian1
ch`iung tang i chien
    chiung tang i chien
poor but ambitious (idiom); hard-pressed but determined; the worse one's position, the harder one must fight back

窮鼠噛猫

see styles
 kyuusogoubyou / kyusogobyo
    きゅうそごうびょう
(expression) (yoji) (See 窮鼠猫を噛む) a cornered rat will bite the cat; one who is cornered will fight like a devil

窺豹一斑


窥豹一斑

see styles
kuī bào yī bān
    kui1 bao4 yi1 ban1
k`uei pao i pan
    kuei pao i pan
lit. see one spot on a leopard (idiom); fig. a restricted view

立ち回り

see styles
 tachimawari
    たちまわり
(1) fight; scuffle; (2) walking about; walking around; (3) conducting oneself; (4) stroll (in noh, an action piece involving circling the stage)

立て役者

see styles
 tateyakusha
    たてやくしゃ
leading actor; person who acts as driving force behind something; key figure; leading spirit; central figure

立体配置

see styles
 rittaihaichi
    りったいはいち
{chem} (molecular) configuration

立竿見影


立竿见影

see styles
lì gān jiàn yǐng
    li4 gan1 jian4 ying3
li kan chien ying
lit. set up a pole and immediately see its shadow (idiom); fig. to get instant results

站穩腳步


站稳脚步

see styles
zhàn wěn jiǎo bù
    zhan4 wen3 jiao3 bu4
chan wen chiao pu
to gain a firm foothold; (fig.) to get oneself established

竜攘虎搏

see styles
 ryuujoukohaku / ryujokohaku
    りゅうじょうこはく
(yoji) fierce fighting

童山濯濯

see styles
tóng shān zhuó zhuó
    tong2 shan1 zhuo2 zhuo2
t`ung shan cho cho
    tung shan cho cho
treeless hill; (fig.) bald head

端数処理

see styles
 hasuushori / hasushori
    はすうしょり
rounding figures (e.g. to the nearest whole number)

竹槍戦術

see styles
 takeyarisenjutsu
    たけやりせんじゅつ
tactics of fighting a technologically advanced adversary with primitive weapons; sole reliance on simple determination (naive spiritualism) in fighting an overwhelming foe

笨鳥先飛


笨鸟先飞

see styles
bèn niǎo xiān fēi
    ben4 niao3 xian1 fei1
pen niao hsien fei
lit. the clumsy bird flies early (idiom); fig. to work hard to compensate for one's limited abilities

第一人者

see styles
 daiichininsha / daichininsha
    だいいちにんしゃ
leading person; foremost figure

第二個人


第二个人

see styles
dì èr ge rén
    di4 er4 ge5 ren2
ti erh ko jen
the second person; (fig.) someone else; third party

筆走龍蛇

see styles
bǐ zǒu lóng shé
    bi3 zou3 long2 she2
pi tsou lung she
lit. the brush flows with the fluidity of a dragon or snake (idiom); fig. (of brushwork, esp for calligraphy) lively; vigorous

管中窺豹


管中窥豹

see styles
guǎn zhōng kuī bào
    guan3 zhong1 kui1 bao4
kuan chung k`uei pao
    kuan chung kuei pao
lit. to see a leopard through a narrow tube (idiom); fig. to miss the big picture

節上生枝


节上生枝

see styles
jié shàng shēng zhī
    jie2 shang4 sheng1 zhi1
chieh shang sheng chih
a new branch grows out of a knot (idiom); fig. side issues keep arising

築室道謀


筑室道谋

see styles
zhù shì dào móu
    zhu4 shi4 dao4 mou2
chu shih tao mou
lit. ask passers-by how to build one's house (idiom); fig. to have no idea what to do; without a clue

篳門閨竇


筚门闺窦

see styles
bì mén guī dòu
    bi4 men2 gui1 dou4
pi men kuei tou
wicker door, hole window (idiom); fig. wretched hovel; living in poverty

米已成炊

see styles
mǐ yǐ chéng chuī
    mi3 yi3 cheng2 chui1
mi i ch`eng ch`ui
    mi i cheng chui
lit. the rice has already been cooked (idiom); fig. what is done cannot be undone

粉身碎骨

see styles
fěn shēn suì gǔ
    fen3 shen1 sui4 gu3
fen shen sui ku
lit. torn body and crushed bones (idiom); fig. to die horribly; to sacrifice one's life

粗茶淡飯


粗茶淡饭

see styles
cū chá dàn fàn
    cu1 cha2 dan4 fan4
ts`u ch`a tan fan
    tsu cha tan fan
plain tea and simple food; (fig.) bread and water

精蟲衝腦


精虫冲脑

see styles
jīng chóng chōng nǎo
    jing1 chong2 chong1 nao3
ching ch`ung ch`ung nao
    ching chung chung nao
lit. the spermatozoons have gone to his head; fig. overwhelmed by lust

精雕細刻


精雕细刻

see styles
jīng diāo - xì kè
    jing1 diao1 - xi4 ke4
ching tiao - hsi k`o
    ching tiao - hsi ko
lit. fine sculpting (idiom); fig. to work (at something) with extreme care and precision

約法三章


约法三章

see styles
yuē fǎ sān zhāng
    yue1 fa3 san1 zhang1
yüeh fa san chang
to agree on three laws (idiom); three-point covenant; (fig.) preliminary agreement; basic rules

紅杏出牆


红杏出墙

see styles
hóng xìng chū qiáng
    hong2 xing4 chu1 qiang2
hung hsing ch`u ch`iang
    hung hsing chu chiang
lit. the red apricot tree leans over the garden wall (idiom); fig. a wife having an illicit lover

紋羽二重

see styles
 monhabutae
    もんはぶたえ
crest-decorated habutae (silk fabric used as a cloth for lining high-quality kimono); figured habutae

紋風不動


纹风不动

see styles
wén fēng bù dòng
    wen2 feng1 bu4 dong4
wen feng pu tung
absolutely still; fig. not the slightest change; also written 文風不動|文风不动

紙上談兵


纸上谈兵

see styles
zhǐ shàng tán bīng
    zhi3 shang4 tan2 bing1
chih shang t`an ping
    chih shang tan ping
lit. military tactics on paper (idiom); fig. theoretical discussion that is worse than useless in practice; armchair strategist; idle theorizing; cf Zhao Kuo 趙括|赵括[Zhao4 Kuo4] leading an army of 400,000 to total annihilation at battle of Changping 長平之戰|长平之战[Chang2 ping2 zhi1 Zhan4] in 260 BC

紙醉金迷


纸醉金迷

see styles
zhǐ zuì jīn mí
    zhi3 zui4 jin1 mi2
chih tsui chin mi
lit. dazzling with paper and gold (idiom); fig. indulging in a life of luxury

素面朝天

see styles
sù miàn cháo tiān
    su4 mian4 chao2 tian1
su mien ch`ao t`ien
    su mien chao tien
lit. to present oneself confidently to the emperor, without makeup (as did the sister of Yang Guifei 楊貴妃|杨贵妃[Yang2 Gui4 fei1]) (idiom); fig. (of a woman) to show one's natural features, without makeup; to present oneself just as one is, without artifice

紫石英號


紫石英号

see styles
zǐ shí yīng hào
    zi3 shi2 ying1 hao4
tzu shih ying hao
HMS Amethyst, Royal Navy corvette involved in a 1949 gunfight with the PLA on the Changjiang

細水長流


细水长流

see styles
xì shuǐ cháng liú
    xi4 shui3 chang2 liu2
hsi shui ch`ang liu
    hsi shui chang liu
lit. thin streams flow forever; fig. economy will get you a long way; to work steadily at something little by little

終南捷徑


终南捷径

see styles
zhōng nán jié jìng
    zhong1 nan2 jie2 jing4
chung nan chieh ching
lit. the Mount Zhongnan shortcut (idiom); fig. shortcut to a high-flying career; easy route to success (an allusion to the Tang Dynasty story of 盧藏用|卢藏用[Lu2 Cang4 yong4], who lived like a hermit on Mt. Zhongnan in order to gain a reputation for wisdom, which he then used to gain a position in the Imperial Court)

組み打ち

see styles
 kumiuchi
    くみうち
(1) grapple; scuffle; fight; (2) defeating one's enemy on the battlefield

組み討ち

see styles
 kumiuchi
    くみうち
(1) grapple; scuffle; fight; (2) defeating one's enemy on the battlefield

結縄文字

see styles
 ketsujoumoji / ketsujomoji
    けつじょうもじ
knotted cords used to record figures, facts, etc.; quipu

絵羽羽織

see styles
 ebabaori; ebahaori
    えばばおり; えばはおり
figured haori (coat)

綠林好漢


绿林好汉

see styles
lù lín - hǎo hàn
    lu4 lin2 - hao3 han4
lu lin - hao han
(idiom) chivalrous hero, often one who combats injustice or fights for a noble cause (originally referred to a group of outlaws who assembled in 綠林|绿林[Lu4lin2])

綿綿瓜瓞


绵绵瓜瓞

see styles
mián mián - guā dié
    mian2 mian2 - gua1 die2
mien mien - kua tieh
lit. (of a melon vine) laden with melons of all sizes (idiom); fig. (of descendants) to thrive and prosper for generations

綿裡藏針


绵里藏针

see styles
mián lǐ cáng zhēn
    mian2 li3 cang2 zhen1
mien li ts`ang chen
    mien li tsang chen
lit. a needle concealed in silk floss (idiom); fig. ruthless character behind a gentle appearance; a wolf in sheep's clothing; an iron fist in a velvet glove

緊鑼密鼓


紧锣密鼓

see styles
jǐn luó - mì gǔ
    jin3 luo2 - mi4 gu3
chin lo - mi ku
lit. urgent beating of gongs and drums (idiom); fig. to urgently prepare for an upcoming event

緣木求魚


缘木求鱼

see styles
yuán mù qiú yú
    yuan2 mu4 qiu2 yu2
yüan mu ch`iu yü
    yüan mu chiu yü
lit. climb a tree to catch a fish (idiom); fig. to attempt the impossible

縛雞之力

see styles
fù jī zhī lì
    fu4 ji1 zhi1 li4
fu chi chih li
lit. the strength to truss a chicken (idiom); fig. slight physical strength

縮頭烏龜


缩头乌龟

see styles
suō tóu wū guī
    suo1 tou2 wu1 gui1
so t`ou wu kuei
    so tou wu kuei
a turtle that pulls its head in; (fig.) coward; chicken

縱虎歸山


纵虎归山

see styles
zòng hǔ guī shān
    zong4 hu3 gui1 shan1
tsung hu kuei shan
lit. to let the tiger return to the mountain; fig. to store up future calamities

繞彎子兒


绕弯子儿

see styles
rào wān zǐ r
    rao4 wan1 zi3 r5
jao wan tzu r
lit. to go on a long detour; fig. to speak vaguely around the topic without getting to the point; to beat about the bush

繞梁三日


绕梁三日

see styles
rào liáng sān rì
    rao4 liang2 san1 ri4
jao liang san jih
reverberates around the rafters for three days (idiom); fig. sonorous and resounding (esp. of singing voice)

罪魁禍首


罪魁祸首

see styles
zuì kuí huò shǒu
    zui4 kui2 huo4 shou3
tsui k`uei huo shou
    tsui kuei huo shou
criminal ringleader, main offender (idiom); main culprit; fig. main cause of a disaster

羅雀掘鼠


罗雀掘鼠

see styles
luó què - jué shǔ
    luo2 que4 - jue2 shu3
lo ch`üeh - chüeh shu
    lo chüeh - chüeh shu
lit. to net sparrows and dig out rats (idiom); fig. to try every possible means of obtaining food (in times of starvation)

羊入虎口

see styles
yáng rù hǔ kǒu
    yang2 ru4 hu3 kou3
yang ju hu k`ou
    yang ju hu kou
lit. a lamb in a tiger's den (idiom); fig. to tread dangerous ground

羊腸小道


羊肠小道

see styles
yáng cháng xiǎo dào
    yang2 chang2 xiao3 dao4
yang ch`ang hsiao tao
    yang chang hsiao tao
road as twisty as sheep's intestine (idiom); narrow and winding road; fig. complicated and tricky job

羊質虎皮


羊质虎皮

see styles
yáng zhì hǔ pí
    yang2 zhi4 hu3 pi2
yang chih hu p`i
    yang chih hu pi
 youshitsukohi / yoshitsukohi
    ようしつこひ
lit. the heart of a sheep in the skin of a tiger (idiom); fig. impressive in appearance but lacking in substance; braggart
(yoji) sheep in a tiger's skin; gimcrack; showy without real worth; all show and no substance

群雄逐鹿

see styles
qún xióng zhú lù
    qun2 xiong2 zhu2 lu4
ch`ün hsiung chu lu
    chün hsiung chu lu
great heroes pursue deer in the central plains (idiom); fig. many vie for supremacy

群龍無首


群龙无首

see styles
qún lóng wú shǒu
    qun2 long2 wu2 shou3
ch`ün lung wu shou
    chün lung wu shou
lit. a thunder of dragons without a head; fig. a group lacking a leader

羲皇上人

see styles
xī huáng shàng rén
    xi1 huang2 shang4 ren2
hsi huang shang jen
lit. a person before the legendary emperor Fuxi 伏羲[Fu2 Xi1]; person from ages immemorial; fig. untroubled person

翅膀硬了

see styles
chì bǎng yìng le
    chi4 bang3 ying4 le5
ch`ih pang ying le
    chih pang ying le
(of a bird) to have become fully fledged; (fig.) (of a person) to have grown up (and become independent); to be ready to spread one's wings

翻天覆地

see styles
fān tiān fù dì
    fan1 tian1 fu4 di4
fan t`ien fu ti
    fan tien fu ti
sky and the earth turning upside down (idiom); fig. complete confusion; everything turned on its head

翻山越嶺


翻山越岭

see styles
fān shān yuè lǐng
    fan1 shan1 yue4 ling3
fan shan yüeh ling
lit. to pass over mountain ridges (idiom); fig. hardships of the journey

翻江倒海

see styles
fān jiāng dǎo hǎi
    fan1 jiang1 dao3 hai3
fan chiang tao hai
lit. overturning seas and rivers (idiom); fig. overwhelming; earth-shattering; in a spectacular mess

翻雲覆雨


翻云覆雨

see styles
fān yún fù yǔ
    fan1 yun2 fu4 yu3
fan yün fu yü
 honunfukuu / honunfuku
    ほんうんふくう
to produce clouds with one turn of the hand and rain with another (idiom); fig. to shift one's ground; tricky and inconstant; to make love
(yoji) fickle friendship

老牛破車


老牛破车

see styles
lǎo niú pò chē
    lao3 niu2 po4 che1
lao niu p`o ch`e
    lao niu po che
lit. old ox pulling a shabby cart (idiom); fig. slow and inefficient

老牛舐犢


老牛舐犊

see styles
lǎo niú shì dú
    lao3 niu2 shi4 du2
lao niu shih tu
lit. an old ox licking its calf (idiom); fig. (of parents) to dote on one's children

老蚌生珠

see styles
lǎo bàng shēng zhū
    lao3 bang4 sheng1 zhu1
lao pang sheng chu
lit. an old oyster producing a pearl (idiom); fig. birthing a son at an advanced age

Entries with 2nd row of characters: The 2nd row is Simplified Chinese.

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This page contains 100 results for "Fig" in Chinese and/or Japanese.



Information about this dictionary:

Apparently, we were the first ones who were crazy enough to think that western people might want a combined Chinese, Japanese, and Buddhist dictionary.

A lot of westerners can't tell the difference between Chinese and Japanese - and there is a reason for that. Chinese characters and even whole words were borrowed by Japan from the Chinese language in the 5th century. Much of the time, if a word or character is used in both languages, it will have the same or a similar meaning. However, this is not always true. Language evolves, and meanings independently change in each language.

Example: The Chinese character 湯 for soup (hot water) has come to mean bath (hot water) in Japanese. They have the same root meaning of "hot water", but a 湯屋 sign on a bathhouse in Japan would lead a Chinese person to think it was a "soup house" or a place to get a bowl of soup. See this: Japanese Bath House

This dictionary uses the EDICT and CC-CEDICT dictionary files.
EDICT data is the property of the Electronic Dictionary Research and Development Group, and is used in conformance with the Group's license.

Chinese Buddhist terms come from Dictionary of Chinese Buddhist Terms by William Edward Soothill and Lewis Hodous. This is commonly referred to as "Soothill's'". It was first published in 1937 (and is now off copyright so we can use it here). Some of these definitions may be misleading, incomplete, or dated, but 95% of it is good information. Every professor who teaches Buddhism or Eastern Religion has a copy of this on their bookshelf. We incorporated these 16,850 entries into our dictionary database ourselves (it was lot of work).



Combined, these cover 1,007,753 Japanese, Chinese, and Buddhist characters, words, idioms, names, placenames, and short phrases.

Just because a word appears here does not mean it is appropriate for a tattoo, your business name, etc. Please consult a professional before doing anything stupid with this data.

We do offer Chinese and Japanese Tattoo Services. We'll also be happy to help you translate something for other purposes.

No warranty as to the correctness, potential vulgarity, or clarity is expressed or implied. We did not write any of these definitions (though we occasionally act as a contributor/editor to the CC-CEDICT project). You are using this dictionary for free, and you get what you pay for.

The following titles are just to help people who are searching for an Asian dictionary to find this page.

Japanese Kanji Dictionary

Free Asian Dictionary

Chinese Kanji Dictionary

Chinese Words Dictionary

Chinese Language Dictionary

Japanese Chinese Dictionary